STEPHEN Clemence said that Blues were expecting nothing but the best Preston North End could muster tomorrow at Deepdale.

STEPHEN Clemence said that Blues were expecting nothing but the best Preston North End could muster tomorrow at Deepdale.

The Lillywhites have to win to stand any chance of making the play-offs.

But it's been like that all campaign, Blues player-of-the-season and players' player-of-the season said.

Blues have never been able to coast, they have been targeted as the major scalp ever since the big kick-off in August.

"For me personally I found that wherever we went, or if teams came to us, they tended to up their game a little bit," he said. "We were the team to beat this season and it's credit to the players that we've handled that."

A civic reception is being held for Blues on Monday - they will appear on the Council House balcony at 5pm - but Clemence admitted celebrations would be flat unless they were showing off the Championship trophy.

"Definitely. We don't just want to finish now because we've got promotion."

Fabrice Muamba is suspended but Damien Johnson should be available again after a hamstring injury.